Domain 1 · ~15–20% of Core Exam

Diagnostic Physics & Safety

This is the domain that rewards dedicated drilling the most. Physics isn't reinforced in the reading room the way neuro or chest is — but it's a large, well-defined, high-yield chunk of the Core Exam. Master image production, rad bio, and RISC, and you bank 15–20% of your score from a single focused effort.

Subtopics Start anywhere, drill to mastery

X-ray & Fluoroscopy →Tube design, photoelectric vs Compton, grids, kVp/mAs. Deep dive ready CT →Hounsfield units, pitch, window/level, iterative reconstruction, dose metrics (CTDI, DLP). Deep dive ready MRI →Pulse sequences (T1/T2/FLAIR/DWI), k-space, gradients, RF, safety zones. Deep dive ready Ultrasound →Piezoelectric effect, Doppler shifts, transducer frequencies, artifacts. Deep dive ready Radiation Biology →Stochastic vs deterministic effects, LET, DNA damage, dose-response models. Deep dive ready Radiation Protection & ALARA →Effective dose, occupational limits, shielding, pregnancy rules. Deep dive ready RISC — Radioisotope Safety →Nuclear material handling, spill response, patient release criteria. Deep dive ready

Study this domain Pick a loop

MCQ Bank

ABR-style multiple choice with rationale and reference for every answer.

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Flashcards

High-yield facts: HU values, effective doses, magnetic field strengths, pulse sequence TR/TE.

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Artifact Cases

Identify artifacts and explain their physical cause — beam hardening, chemical shift, Gibbs ringing.

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Domain Mock

Physics-only timed mock. 40 questions, 60 minutes — calibrate your pace.

Why this matters From the project brief

"Physics is often the most challenging domain for residents because it is distinct from daily clinical reading. You must understand how images are created to recognize why they might look wrong (artifacts) and how to keep patients safe."